Tail for a kite

ABSTRACT

An improved tail for a kite and an improved kite combination. The improved tail comprises a plurality of open-ended, hollow, frusto-conical members secured in spaced axial alignment below the kite, with the smaller end of each frusto-conical member away from the kite, with air striking the kite, in flight, being directed downwardly through the aligned frusto-conical members to provide lift to and stabilize the kite.

United States Patent [191 Hufstader Jan. 21, 1975 TAIL FOR A KITE [76] Inventor: William H. I-Iufstader, 5700 Bunker Hill St., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15206 [22] Filed: Aug. 29, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 392,478

[52] US. Cl 244/153 R [51] Int. Cl. B64c 31/06 [58] Field of Search 244/153 R, 154, 155 R,

244/155 A; D34/15 AF; 114/209 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1932 Baker 244/154 3,062,488 1l/1962 Sulger 244/155 R 3,100,895 8/1963 Resnick 244/153 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 303,442 7/1915 Germany 244/155 R Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix Assistant ExaminerBarry L. Kelmachter Attorney, Agent, or FirmParmelee, Miller, Welsh & Kratz [57] ABSTRACT An improved tail for a kite and an improved kite com- I bination. The improved tail comprises a plurality of open-ended, hollow, frusto-conical members secured in spaced axial alignment below the kite, with the smaller end of each frusto-conical member away from the kite, with air striking the kite, in flight, being directed downwardly through the aligned frustoconical members to provide lift to and stabilize the kite.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures TAIL FOR A KITE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to kites, and more specifically, to tails for use in improving the stability and performance of kites.

2. Prior Art Kites are of ancient origin, and can presently be found in numerous forms. Probably the two most popular types in use in this country as toys are the box kite and the familiar type made from two crossed sticks covered with paper or plastic usually. having four sides, in the shape of double isosceles triangles. Kites of the latter type require a pendulous tail, appended to the lowest point, for purposes of stability and balance.

Tails for kites of this standard type have most commonly been made of rags, tied together to form a long string, and attached to the lowest point on the kite. Other designs have been suggested, usually for purposes of appearance or amusement, such as tabs which spin in the wind. The present invention provides a tail which is lighter in weight than traditional rag tails, and which has a beneficial effect on lift and stability of the kite.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a tail for a kite, which tail is to be attached to a point on the kite which is adjacent the lowest point of the kite when in use. A plurality of open-ended, hollow, frusto-conical members are secured in spaced alignment below the point of attachment to the kite by means such as a plurality of cords. The smaller end of each frusto-conical member is disposed away from the kite, and all of the frusto-conical members are disposed about a common axis which intersects the point of attachment to the kite. The cords may extend the full length of the tail, and connect the kite and all of the frusto-conical members, or individual cord segments may connect the frusto-conical members to each other, and the upper one to the kite. The frusto-conical members may be nested for packing or storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a kite with one embodiment of the tail of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a kite with the tail of the present invention in use, with arrows showing air flow.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the tail of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 a kite 2 has a tail designated generally 4. Kite 2 may be of various shapes and designs, but is limited generally to shapes and designs which have a vertical brace 6 and an attached horizontal brace 8, with a single substantially planar surface, defined by paper or other material 10, which is inclined into the wind when the kite is in use. For purposes of this description, the kite 2 is shown to be of a standard, double-isosceles triangle design. The tail 4 is attached to the kite 2 at a point 12 which is the point on the kite 2 which is intended to be in the lowest position when the kite 2 is in use.

In the preferred embodiment, strings or cords 14 are attached to the kite 2 at the point of attachment l2, and are also secured to open-ended, hollow, frustoconical members 16. The number of cords 14 which are used may vary, but at least two such cords 14 are required to keep the frusto-conical members 16 in spaced alignment, and three of such cords 14 are shown in the drawings. The frusto-conical members 16 are formed of a tapering thin-walled tube of a relatively rigid lightweight material, such as paper, plastic, or the like. Other materials may be used, but the material used must be light enough in weight so as not to interfere with the lift of the kite 2, and yet heavy enough to stabilize the kite 2 by keeping the point of attachment 12 at the lowest position. The type and weight of material used to form the frusto-conical members 16 will be determined primarily by the size and lift capacity of the kite 2 to which the tail is attached. I

The frusto-conical members 16 are open at each end, so as to allow for the passage of air through the frustoconical members 16. In order to have the desired effect on the lift of the kite 2, the frusto-conical members 16 must be oriented and aligned with the smaller end 18 of each frusto-conical member 16 being disposed away from the kite 2. The frusto-conical members 16 must also be aligned along a'common axis, such that each is directly above any lower frusto-conical member 16 and all of the frusto-conical members 16 are directly below the point of attachment 12, when the kite 2 and tail 4 are in a vertical position.

Such an orientation and alignment may be achieved by having the cords 14 secured to each frusto-conical member 16 at a point along the edge or lip 20 of the larger end of the frusto-conical member 16 as shown in FIG. 1. Such securement may be achieved by passing the cords 15 through an aperture in the lip 20 and tying a knot therein. The points on the lip 20 of the larger end of the frusto-conical member 16, to which the cords 14 are secured, are spaced evenly around the edge of the lip 20. Cords 14 may be secured to the frusto-conical members 16 in various other ways, so long as the frusto-conical members 16 are held in the orientation and alignment described above. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, segmented cords 22 may connect the uppermost frusto-conical member 16 to the point of attachment 12 on kite 2. Each of the lower frusto-conical members 16 may then be connected by segmented cords 22 to the frusto-conical member 16 immediately above it. For example, segmented cords 22 may be passed through apertures in the lip 20 on the larger end of the lowest frusto-conical member 16 and secured by knots tied at the end thereof. The other ends of segmented cords 22 would then be similarly secured by knots after being passed through apertures in the lower edge 18 of the above adjacent frusto-conical member 16. Each of the other frusto-conical members would be similarly secured.

At least two frusto-conical members 16 are required to achieve the improved lift .and stability with this invention gives to the kite 2. A larger number of frustoconical members 16 may be aligned in the tail 4, with the number being limited primarily by the capacity of the kite 2 to lift the weight of the tail 4. A tail 4 having three frusto-conical members 16 is shown in the drawings, and has been particularly satisfactory in use with a standard kite 2.

The size of the frusto-conical members 16 may also vary according to the size and type of kite 2 used. A satisfactory tail 4 for use with a standard size and shape toy kite 2 may be formed, for example, from frustoconical members 16 having a diameter at the larger end 20 of 6.7 cm., a diameter at the smaller end 18 of 4.3 cm., and a height of 8.2 cm. When such dimensions are used, the frusto-conical members may be secured such that the smaller end 18 of one frusto-conical member 16 is spaced a distance of 3.5 cm. from the larger end 20 of the frusto-conical member 16 immediately below it.

The tail 4, as herein described, improves the lift and stability characteristics of the kite 2 to which it is attached. Although the reason for this improvement is not thoroughly understood, it is hypothesized that the air striking the kite 2, and thus causing it to rise, may be deflected downward by the angle of the kite 2, as shown in FIG. 3. This air then may pass through the frusto-conical members 16 which are attached to the kite 2, and have an effect on the over-all kite and tail combination, which gives the above results.

There has been described a novel tail for a kite, and a kite in combination with such a tail. The present invention improves lift and stability characteristics, and reduces the weight of the kite and tail combination.

I claim:

1. A tail for a kite, which tail is to be attached to a point on the kite which is adjacent the lowest point of the kite when in use, comprising:

a plurality of open-ended, hollow, frusto-conical members; and

a plurality of cords securing the frusto-conical members in spaced alignment below the point of attachment to the kite, so that the smaller end of each frusto-conical member is disposed away from the kite, and the frusto-conical members are disposed about a common axis which intersects the point of attachment to the kite,

with the uppermost frusto-conical member being secured by a plurality of cords, which cords are attached to the kite at the point of attachment, and also secured to the uppermost frusto-conical member, and

each lower frusto-conical member being secured by a plurality of cords, which cords are secured to that lower frusto-conical member, and are also secured to the frusto-conical member above that lower frusto-conical member.

2. A tail for a kite as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said cords is secured to each of the frusto-conical members, and also attached to the kite at the point of attachment.

3. A tail for a kite as defined in claim 2 wherein the cords are each secured to each of the frusto-conical members at a point on the edge of the larger end of the frusto-conical member, the points of securement on each frusto-conical member being spaced evenly around the edge of the larger end of the frusto-conical member.

4. In a kite having a tail attached to a point on the kite adjacent the lowest point of the kite when in use, the improvement wherein the tail comprises:

a plurality of open-ended, hollow, frusto-conical members; and

a plurality of cords securing the frusto-conical members in spaced alignment below the point of attachment to the kite, so that the smaller end of each frusto-conical member is disposed away from the kite, and the frusto-conical members are disposed about a common axis which intersects the point of attachment to the kite,

with the uppermost frusto-conical member being secured by a plurality of cords, which cords are attached to the kite at the point of attachment, and also secured to the uppermost frusto-conical member, and

each lower frusto-conical member being secured by a plurality of cords, which cords are secured to that lower frusto-conical member, and are also secured to the frusto-conical member above that lower frusto-conical member.

5. The kite having a tail as defined in claim 4 wherein each of said cords is secured to each of the frustoconical members, and also attached to the kite at the point of attachment.

6. The kite having a tail as defined in claim 5 wherein the cords are each secured to each of the frusto-conical members at a point on the edge of the larger end of the frusto-conical member, the points of securement on each frusto-conical member being spaced evenly around the edge of the larger end of the frusto-conical member. 

1. A tail for a kite, which tail is to be attached to a point on the kite which is adjacent the lowest point of the kite when in use, comprising: a plurality of open-ended, hollow, frustoconical members; and a plurality of cords securing the frusto-conical members in spaced alignment below the point of attachment to the kite, so that the smaller end of each frusto-conical member is disposed away from the kite, and the frusto-conical members are disposed about a common axis which intersects the point of attachment to the kite, with the uppermost frusto-conical member being secured by a plurality of cords, which cords are attached to the kite at the point of attachment, and also secured to the uppermost frustoconical member, and each lower frusto-conical member being secured by a plurality of cords, which cords are secured to that lower frusto-conical member, and are also secured to the frusto-conical member above that lower frusto-conical member.
 2. A tail for a kite as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said cords is secured to each of the frusto-conical members, and also attached to the kite at the point of attachment.
 3. A tail for a kite as defined in claim 2 wherein the cords are each secured to each of the frusto-conical members at a point on the edge of the larger end of the frusto-conical member, the points of securement on each frusto-conical member being spaced evenly around the edge of the larger end of the frusto-conical member.
 4. In a kite having a tail attached to a point on the kite adjacent the lowest point of the kite when in use, the improvement wherein the tail comprises: a plurality of open-ended, hollow, frusto-conical members; and a plurality of cords securing the frusto-conical members in spaced alignment below the point of attachment to the kite, so that the smaller end of each frusto-conical member is disposed away from the kite, and the frusto-conical members are disposed about a common axis which intersects the point of attachment to the kite, with the uppermost frusto-conical member being secured by a plurality of cords, which cords are attached to the kite at the point of attachment, and also secured to the uppermost frusto-conical member, and each lower frusto-conical member being secured by a plurality of cords, which cords are secured to that lower frusto-conical member, and are also secured to the frusto-conical member above that lower frusto-conical member.
 5. The kite having a tail as defined in claim 4 wherein each of said cords is secured to each of the frusto-conical members, and also attached to the kite at the point of attachment.
 6. The kite having a tail as defined in claim 5 wherein the cords are each secured to each of the frusto-conical members at a point on the edge of the larger end of the frusto-conical member, the points of securement on each frusto-conical member being spaced evenly around the edge of the larger end of the frusto-conical member. 